Monday, July 30, 2012

Or your iPad, Nook, Kindle Fire or just plain old nightstand? Whatever your device happens to be, I am always looking for suggestions from other avid readers. Last year I read 36 novels over the course of the year and when 2012 rolled around I made an absurd resolution with myself that I would read at least one more book this year than I did last year. Basically I have put myself in a position where I am constantly checking my "read" list against the calendar and making ridiculous calculations but I have read some pretty great things this year. With nearly seven months of 2012 in the books, I thought I would go ahead and share my book list and solicit recommendations to get me through the rest of the year. When I do not have books queued up at least three deep I start to feel nervous. God forbid I lose a day to indecision! So in order from oldest to most recent, here they are:

1. The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe -- Had to read this "classic" and definitely enjoyed it.
2. Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster -- Pass
3. The Paris Wife by Paula Mclain -- Loved it though you will hate Ernest Hemingway by the end.
4. Crossed by Ally Condie - Book two in semi Hunger Games-esque and entertaining
5. The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly - Liked
6. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - Slavery made into a soap opera. A bit much.
7. The Darlings by Cristina Alger - Entertaining story
8. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - Excellent. One of the best books I have read all year and my Mom agrees.
9. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Very good. This book is different and a bit spooky. I have heard it compared to Harry Potter but I'm not sure I would agree entirely.
10. Matched by Ally Condie - Book one in the trilogy I previously compared to The Hunger Games. These books are way easy to read and I have to admit, I have already pre-bought the third book which comes out in November.
11. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick - El Bizarro
12. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff - Very interesting and informative story about modern day Mormons as opposed to Mormonism practiced centuries ago.
13. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James - Ok, I'm very embarrassed to admit I have read these. I really hated the first book and had decided not to buy the other two when in the last ten pages of book one, I was completely sucked in. Funny how that happens, huh? If you are easily freaked out by anything sexual, you should take a pass on these. I'd classify them as borderline porn.
14. Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James - porn
15. Fifty Shades Free by E.L. James - porn
16. Miss Peregrine's House for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - Very odd book but highly entertaining. I'm still not exactly sure I have grasped what happened.
17. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld - Great read, highly entertaining, twist at the end that sort of irritated me and tainted the book as a whole for me.
18. A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson - I always like this author's books and this was another good read.
19. My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster - Something about Jen Lancaster annoys me. I kind of think she is an asshole.
20. The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan - If you want to have nightmares about cruise ships sinking a la Titanic style and living on a lifeboat for 21 days, this is the book for you.
21. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Couldn't put this one down until I was done. Haven't heard from anyone who didn't enjoy it.
22. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson - Jenny Lawson reminds me of Jen Lancaster. Enough said.
23. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter - Good story though a bit harder to get into than most books.
24. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - Same author as Gone Girl but this book is slightly less entertaining and definitely has a screwy main character.
25. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker - Also one of my favorites of the year so far. I only wish more had been tied up at the end.
26. Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead - Good read if you want something fluffy.
27. The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty - Great story, definitely enjoyed.

So there y'all have it. I am in the process of reading My Year With Eleanor by Noelle Hancock and I'm really liking it. It would appear that I am on track to read my goal this year but I always want to hear suggestions from others. If you have read something recently that you couldn't put down, please let me know! The winter is closing in on us in Germany (yes, I know it is only July but you would be scared to if you lived here) and I'll need to ensure plenty of reading to get me through the dreary months. I'm looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say!

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comments:

I am currently reading the Spire by Richard North Patterson and am hooked. I recommend! Actually - he did a whole series with a character called Caroline Masters that I loved if you like legal thrillers.

I read the Hunger Games series, and was looking for another series to start. I had limited resources and ended up with the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. They are meant for the young adult audience, but they sucked me in. I am currently on book 5 (I have only been reading them for a couple weeks). I also have the two prequels that I haven't started yet that are part of The Infernal Devices series. They are kinda sci-fi/fantasy but very well written.

I just finished reading The Paris Wife for my book club. You are right- I totally hated Ernest Hemingway pretty much through the whole book. One of the best books I have read this year was The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.

What a fantastic goal! I love reading also, but I'm not as good as you about getting it done! One book I read recently that I really enjoyed was The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin. I've heard from so many people how great Gone Girl is...it is next on my list! I also wanted to let you know I'm nominating you for a Versatile Blogger Award! Your writing always puts a smile on my face, so THANKS and keep up the great work! :}

I've heard that Shine, Shine, Shine by Lydia Netzer is good. She's an author from Norfolk, where I live, and the book has been really well reviewed in the local area. Plus a friend knows her, read an advance copy and raves about it. Its next on my list.

I've heard that Shine, Shine, Shine by Lydia Netzer is good. She's from Norfolk, where I live, and the book has been reviewed by the local paper and seems really good. Plus a friend knows her, read an advance copy and raved about it.